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Diwali fireworks choke Delhi, angering Indians Diwali fireworks choke Delhi, angering Indians
(about 2 hours later)
Angry residents of the Indian capital, Delhi, are sharing images of smog, one day after Diwali celebrations saw huge quantities of fireworks set off.Angry residents of the Indian capital, Delhi, are sharing images of smog, one day after Diwali celebrations saw huge quantities of fireworks set off.
Levels of particulate matter in the air hazardous to health rose to nearly 10 times the safe limit of 100. Levels of pollutants in the air were 30 times the World Health Organisation's recommended level in one neighbourhood.
Authorities had warned that Delhi faced a polluted Diwali because of factors like humidity and wind speed.Authorities had warned that Delhi faced a polluted Diwali because of factors like humidity and wind speed.
Diwali, the most important Hindu festival in north India, celebrates the victory of good over evil.Diwali, the most important Hindu festival in north India, celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Fire crackers are regularly set off during the festivities but tend to worsen air quality. How bad is the smog?
Delhi's local government announced last week that it would install air purifiers near roads in an effort to cut the effects of air pollution. On Monday morning, visibility across the city was extremely low, thanks to a thick blanket of smog covering the city. Residents were advised to stay indoors.
In cartoons: Doing Diwali Delhi style Levels of tiny particulate matter (known as PM 2.5) that reaches deep into the lungs more than doubled within a few hours on Monday to 750 micrograms per cubic metre in the worst affected parts, India's Central Pollution Control Board said
Crass, loud, meaningless: Why have we ruined Diwali like this? That is 30 times a mean guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 25 micrograms per cubic metre on average over a 24-hour period.
However, visibility across the city was extremely low on Monday morning, thanks to the thick blanket of smog covering the city. The hashtag #smog was soon trending on Twitter India. The US embassy in Delhi said its air pollution index late on Sunday had breached the "hazardous" upper limit level of 500, at which it stops measuring levels of particulate matter.
"Good show last night, Delhi. Now choke!" read one angry tweet from user Pratik Prasenjit. What about Delhi's pollution?
Before Diwali, there were several campaigns asking people to cut down on the use of fireworks, but similar initiatives in the past have got little attention. Delhi, a city of 16 million people, is the 11th most polluted city in the world, according to a report released by the WHO in May. On the days before the festival, the air quality there was already bad.
Fire crackers have become synonymous with celebrations, and for some, it is an opportunity to show off their wealth. Business families spend hundreds of thousands of rupees to buy fireworks which are then set off in the course of a single night. Authorities have tried to address the issue, including banning old trucks from entering the city and briefly trialling a scheme that limited private vehicle usage to alternate days. But experts say such measures have done little to reduce pollution.
A World Health Organisation (WHO) survey in 2014 found that 13 of the most polluted 20 cities in the world were in India. Delhi was the most polluted city in the world, the survey added. During the winter months, Delhi's pollution is aggravated by many of the city's poor burning rubbish at night to stay warm. Agricultural waste is also set on fire across thousands of hectares around Delhi to clear cropland, which burns for days on end.
Meanwhile, a new study by the UN's children's fund, Unicef, said that two billion children around the world - nearly one in seven - breathe outdoor air at least six times dirtier than international guidelines recommend. Most of them live in South Asian cities, many in northern India.
Air pollution is also a leading cause of premature death in India, with about 620,000 people dying every year from pollution-related diseases, says the WHO.Air pollution is also a leading cause of premature death in India, with about 620,000 people dying every year from pollution-related diseases, says the WHO.
In addition to fireworks during Diwali, Delhi's pollution in winter is aggravated by a drop in temperature which leads to the city's poor burning rubbish at night to stay warm. Why are fireworks so popular?
Agricultural waste is also set on fire across thousands of hectares around Delhi to clear cropland, which burns for days on end. For some they are an opportunity to show off wealth. Business families spend hundreds of thousands of rupees to buy fireworks which are then used in the course of a single night.
Delhi's Diwali pollution problem Fireworks are also big business in India, with thousands of families employed in related factories.
Before Diwali there were several campaigns asking people to cut down on the use of fireworks. Similar initiatives in the past have got little attention.
How have people reacted to the smog?
Many have been very angry. The hashtag #smog was a trending topic on Twitter India. "Good show last night, Delhi. Now choke!" read one angry tweet from user Pratik Prasenjit.
But many others have said the roots of Delhi's air pollution go beyond Diwali and its firecrackers.